As we approach the holiday season, it's an ideal time to ask Harold Solomon of the Harold Solomon Tennis Institute in Fort Lauderdale, Florida about the need to take a break from tournaments and training.
Today's question:
Should I periodically take a vacation from tennis where I don't play tournaments or train?
Solomon responds:
I think it's vitally important to get away from tennis at various times during the year no matter if you are a junior, college or professional player. Totally getting away and letting your body rest is a good habit to begin as a junior player. Mentally taking a break gives you the opportunity to not only relax and decompress but also to reflect upon the proceeding time frame and objectively look back at how you are doing in meeting your goals. These breaks are also a great opportunity to revisit your goals.
Periodic two week breaks should take place for juniors twice a year. I recommend that the first week be a total break from anything to do with tennis and that in the second week you start a slow jump back into physical training. Other shorter three or four day breaks should be interspersed throughout the calendar year especially during and after the longer tournament swings in the summer.
You should set up your schedule so you can peak during the most important tournaments of the year. It is imperative that you come into the biggest events fresh both mentally and physically, by avoiding over-training leading up to these events. At our institute we recommend that most players take at least one and a half days off per week during normal training. It helps if coaches and parents can help break the year into scheduling segments (three or four) and that these breaks are introduced at the end of each segment. If you learn how to do this at a younger age, I think it helps maintain a healthier body and a fresher perspective down the road.
Do you have a question for Andy Brandi or Harold Solomon? If so, please send it to clewis[at]zootennis[dot]com with the phrase Coaches Q and A in the subject line.
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